SWRK 292 Thesis/Project Seminar

Expectations for Course Apply research concepts from SWRK 291. Write first three chapters of your project or thesis. Identify a topic that you want to learn more about. Develop research questions and methodology. Write a review of the theoretical and empirical literature on your topic; find professional literature to use for your literature review. Develop measurement instruments, cover letters, and consent forms. Obtain human subjects approval for your research. Participate in class exercises that will help you write your chapters.

Six Graded Assignments for This Class Mini-proposal 10 points10% Draft - Chapter 220 points20% Draft - Chapter 315 points15% Draft – Chapter 110 points10% Completed Chapters points30% Human Subjects Approval Obtained/Human Subjects training certificate obtained from on-line course 5 points5% Attendance and Participation10 points10% Total100 points100%

All course material is in one location: Dr. Hardina’s web page: Course material can also be found on the Blackboard page for this course

Examples of Acceptable Research Opportunities Evaluation of your own practice with a client, group, family, or community system (Did the intervention produce the intended results?). Evaluation of service delivery outcomes. Survey research Assessment of the process of service delivery. Single system or multiple baseline designs to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention used by a single practitioner. Needs assessment. Qualitative research. Participatory action research. Feminist Research. Ethnographic studies. Case record or social indicator analysis. Qualitative research. Case study of the process of policy development (using secondary sources and/or interview data). Library-based study of a social work/welfare/policy issue; you have to present an acceptable rationale for the methodology and sampling of literature (i.e., your data). Only two options are acceptable: a) Meta-analysis of empirical literature b) In depth, e.g., content analysis, historical analysis, analysis of policies or organization driven by theory.

In addition, if you are completing a project, you may choose to complete an activity with an empirical component rather than just do an empirical study for this course. For example, you can: Coordinate a conference. Develop training materials for social workers. Write a grant proposal. Analyze a policy. Develop a program. Design a web page for an organization.

For the activity option: You still need to complete the three chapters required for the course. The criteria for Chapters 1 and 3 specify additional information required of students who select the “activity” option. You need to collect some empirical data about your activity – for example, you can conduct a needs assessment to verify a need for your activity or you could evaluate what you’ve accomplished. [Since you will be required to carry the plan out – your Chapters 4 and 5 (to be completed next semester) will be slightly different from those of students choosing the empirical option].

To conduct a good study you need to examine previous theories and how these theories have been applied in previous research studies. Often students pick theories that have nothing to do with their study!

Most research guided by a theoretical perspective or framework. If theories about a specific situation or population don’t exist, it is an indicator that you may need to do a qualitative or descriptive study. However, the theory portion of a project or thesis can contain information or theories about specific research paradigms (or models) that contain both a theoretical perspective and a specific approach for doing research

For example, feminist research contains a definite point of view and theories about the role of women in society. There is also a specific methodological approach that is used to conduct feminist research

General Theories More Specific Theories that Apply to the Situation or Issue under Study Intervention or Cause Practice Activities in Model Outcomes or Effects

Theories About the Effects of Oppression/Powerlessness Empowerment Theory as Applied to Clients in Social Service Organizations Social Workers facilitate empowerment by encouraging clients to engage in self-advocacy, self-help groups, organization decision-making, and political activism. Clients’ Perception of their Own Power Increases

How do I develop a topic and choose methodology? Draw from your own practice experience and interests. Review available literature (books and professional journals). You may also do agency-based literature on a topic or issue that your field agency or employer suggests.

This class requires that you complete the first three chapters of your project or thesis. If you choose the empirical/research option: An empirical study is anything that involves human subjects. Your research may be qualitative, descriptive, or quantitative. In some circumstances, an historical study or other type of document analysis may be acceptable. You may also conduct a case record analysis or use secondary (already collected) data.

Additional things to think about Have other researchers looked at this topic? Do these studies produce similar or different results? Are there limitations in the way research was conducted previously? Is there available research, but does it actually apply to the situation or population group that I want to study? Is research on this issue/topic limited?

Key indicators for choosing research methodology A great deal of previous research on the topic Choose quantitative methods. A moderate amount of research – but it may not pertain to the situation or population I wish to study (for example a needs assessment, consumer satisfaction survey, or a survey that examines demographic characteristics or opinions Choose a descriptive study. Limited previous research – or research that is not relevant to a particular situation or population groups. Choose a qualitative study

Also keep in mind that you will need human subjects approval for your study: This requirement will also apply to activities since there is an expectation that some data will be collected. You will need to complete a human subjects application that will be reviewed by department faculty. The expectation for this course is that you will file your application before the end of the semester. If your study will involve children, prisoners, or pregnant women or could pose a risk to subjects, you will also need to apply for human subjects approval from the university. The University Human Subjects committee has it’s own format for the materials that you are expected to file. It is highly suggested that if your study will involve an at-risk group, then you should use the university format to prepare your application for the department as well.